Cecily Strong

Cecily Strong is a comedian and actress probably best known for her association with "Saturday Night Live," where she was co-host of "Weekend Update" and played a variety of characters, including "The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation with at a Party." Most recently, she served as the featured entertainer at the 2015 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner.

The Comedy is Strong With Cecily Strong

Bio

Growing up, Cecily Strong used to watch "SNL" and calls Phil Hartman a strong influence on her decision to go into comedy improv. In Chicago, she performed regularly at iO and with the Second City national touring company. She even did a four month gig aboard a cruise ship with the Second City cast. She said of the experience, “It’s sort of like a cross between vacation and prison.”

As for the characters she likes to play, Cecily Strong said, “I love people who aren’t embarrassed. I’m always embarrassed, so it’s always astonishing to me when people aren’t like that.” Though she played a Latina on “SNL,” she is not Hispanic. She is a mix of English, German, Scottish and Italian ancestry.

As for working as a comic actress, she said, “Some days I feel genuinely funny, some days I’m like: 'Oh, I suck. Am I funny, or am I like the people in the audition process on ‘American Idol’ that don’t know that they’re not good?' I always feel the most validated and confident being around people that I find funny — having Fred Armisen laugh at a scene or Bill Hader or Seth Meyers give me a compliment.”

Cecily Strong told Men’s Health magazine that guys never hit on her. “They don’t know what to say to me.” Her advice to guys was to lighten up. “If something awkward happens, laugh. I don’t think I’ve ever dated a guy who couldn’t laugh – even in bed, during intimate times.”

When asked what was the most Chicago thing about her, she said, “Probably my awful accent, No. 1. My love for cheese. My love for hanging out and drinking." She will soon be seen in the films “Ghostbusters” and “Michelle Darnell.”